GT Avalanche 2.0
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I’d buy it again. Great price/value. In 2 yrs, I’ve upgraded the pedals, hand-grips, seat, and more aggressive tires to match the terrain. ProsBeen riding it for 2-years now. Solid frame, great breaks, easy to maintain, fun ride. ConsPedals seized after wet ride. Reply | Thank
Amazing bike! Affordable, takes a beating and keeps on running! Buy it! It may be the last bike you ever own for cross country, some technical and everyday smashing into things.ProsExcellent Frame, aggressive tires, affordable, a ‘take you anywhere’ hardtail. Excellent value, and dependable bike. Smashed more than 2000KM of hardcore technical on this bike, and will never sell it.ConsNone really. rear deraileur is a little open, and tends to take many hits on technical trails. but never needed to replace it after easily 2000KM! Reply | Thank
I just got this bike as my first real mountain bike. Mine has the hydraulic disk brakes and it was only 500. Been great so far. I’m learning how to wheelie and other very beginner tricks/techniques on it and it has been great. ProsGreat components and frame for the price ConsHeavy, the rims got a little out of true very easily Reply | Thank
Bought this 09 back in Sept. to start losing weight. and I have. Bought it because of the strength of the Triple Triangle. Bike is probably a little heavier than some other models, but I feel (opinion) it’s kind of overbuilt. like the rider. I ride 13 Mi home 2-3 per week, and have just started doing some offroad trails. Loving the bike for both. Would definately recommend this bike. especialy if strength is your priority vs. a little less weight. ProsReally strong frame for this heavy rider. ConsNone at this time Reply | Thank
Overall this is a great bike for a beginner. We liked it so much we purchased the woman’s version for my fiance. ProsDisc brakes, good quality tires. Good mid-range components. Good price ConsDoes not have hydraulic brakes on this version (most on 2009 version do) Reply | Thank
Design
The new Sensor Carbon gets a fresh composite layup and structural layout that’s very similar to the longer travel, high-pivot Force bike. This includes a flat ‘cobra head’ top tube that curves down into a sculpted lower seat stay section that includes the upper linkage pivot. The upper part of the seat tube is supported by a triangulating strut and the whole setup looks a lot like the latest Evil and Trek bikes even though GT were famous back in the day for their ‘Triple Triangle’ overshot stay design.
The main pivot sits just below and behind the chainring with another pivot at the end of the alloy chain stays creating a classic ‘Horst Link’ four-bar design. Increasing shock stroke from 50mm to 55mm on the trunnion-mounted shock boosts travel from 130 to 140mm. The seat stays are changed to carbon on the new frame too which together with refinement of the linkage means the frame drops 600g over the previous Sensor.
You still get a plastic armor panel under the belly and a ribbed chain slap protection on the seat and chain stays. All the pivot junctions are double-sided clevis designs and the gear, dropper post cables, and brake house route through the frame in molded tubes. There’s room for a full-size bottle inside the frame too as well as a removable alloy chain guide mount. There’s no internal storage or XS or XL frame sizes which keeps the price down.
The 65-degree head angle, 77-degree seat angle, and 440mm chain stays are the same across all sizes too rather than being proportionate, but reach changes from 430mm on the small, through 455mm medium and 480mm large then right out to 515mm for the XL. 380, 400, 420, and 460mm seat tubes give space for sizing up on reach even while running a long-stroke dropper.
Components
The 10mm increased rear travel is matched with a 150mm fork in front and you’re getting a top-spec RockShox Lyrik Ultimate to match the Super Deluxe Ultimate rear shock. The cable-operated gears are a mix of X01 and GX Eagle, turned with an alloy Truvativ crank running a 32-tooth ring. The dropper post stroke varies between 150mm and 200mm depending on frame size with the medium I tested getting a 170mm stroke, but the Rad post is also adjustable by.30mm too. A short 35mm stem holds 31.8mm bars with a really early and accentuated 30mm rise that adds a comfy, easily lifted character to the front end. It’s also a reminder that GT first started off as Gary Turner’s BMX brand before becoming one of the biggest MTB brands in the 90s and 00s.
While GT lists stock spec as Continental’s Kryptotal Enduro Soft tires, my test sample came with a Maxxis DHF front and Dissector rear which gave their usual great balance of grip and speed. The brakes on my pre-embargo sample bike were also off-spec with SRAM G2 rather than the more powerful Code so check what you’re actually getting before you buy. Wheels use WTB KOM Trail i30 rims which are fine but the SRAM hub potentially has a big (18-degree maximum) lag before pick up and the 32 plain gauge spokes add weight too. That puts overall mass at a hefty 15kg but at £5k you’re getting outstanding value for money for a shop sold and supported, rather than a remotely delivered bike.
If the LE is still too pricey Sensor Carbon Pro and Sensor Carbon Elite drop the price to 4950 / £4200 and 3,800 / £3400 respectively while two alloy models with slightly steeper geometry come in at 2600 / £2500 (Comp) and 2300 /£2200 (Sport). There are two 120mm travel Sensor ST options at 5000 / £4000 and 3900 / £3350 as well which I’ll hopefully be testing shortly.
Ride, handling and performance
The GT Sensor LE doesn’t just show great value in its spec either. The geometry feels immediately familiar and well-balanced (it’s basically the same as a Santa Cruz Hightower in its taller/steeper setting). It’s long enough to center you for confidence but not so slack it loses interest in turning at slow speed and the shorter seat tubes and adjustable dropper stroke means it’s easy to size up if you do want more length. The 440mm rear end length is well proportioned to the front of the medium and large bikes too though that balance will be slightly out of kilter for S and XL frames.
The broad headed frame means enough stiffness to stick the front wheel wherever you want and then drive the DHF tire hard to hold that spot through turns, random rock heaps and it’s not nervous nailing deep, narrow ruts at speed. Clevis joints and alloy chain stays keep the back end similarly tight and trustworthy through turns or trying to crab a tight line across off-cambers or loose step-outs. The shallow, subtly curved tubes mean it’s not so stiff it blows your arms/hands up when the Lyrik has one of its occasional spikey moments. There’s enough spring to make it feel alive rather than dull and inert like a lot of ‘cost conscious’. and even some boutique carbon frames I’ve tested.
The suspension is naturally easygoing even by four-bar FSR standards, so it’s worth playing around with the four-position low-speed compression dial if you want a firmer and more supportive vibe. Fully open it sucks down into its stroke slightly under power but gives a hovercraft smoothness over random jank/mini moguls. The potentially big gap in freehub pickup also reduces pedal pullback on big hits and drops so it handles stutter bumps and slap impacts well for a rear wheel that doesn’t move backwards much. Easy lean back into the suspension and higher rise bar makes bringing the nose up effortless at all speeds too. This adds to the alive frame vibe to create a bike that likes to throw some lazy steeze and style with gravity at its back. It can also rock crawl up steppy, lumpy climbs with very little pedal kickback or rhythm disturbance when I span smoothly.
Left fully open the relatively rearward, lower main pivot naturally takes the nose off the power phase of the pedal stroke and also combined with the overall weight to make longer power climbs a chore. The self-compression also makes the effective seat angle slacker so the front came up and/or wandered frequently in full open so I found myself weighting the front end more than normal on climbs.
While suspension feel is definitely a personal thing I like to be aggressive on climbs so I’m not a fan of squishy bikes. Happily for me running the damper with full low-speed compression adds enough support to crank the pedals hard without excess bob and there’s always the pedal lever if you really want to snuff out movement. The sophisticated sequential (rather than parallel) low and high-speed damping flow inside the Super Deluxe means it’s still not obviously harsh or chattery even at full firm either. It does lose some traction through loose turns though and with limited mechanical feedback it still tended to spin the rear wheel earlier than I expected. That meant I kept it fully wound on for trails with lots of linked berms or compressions that I wanted to sit higher and harder on. Otherwise, the 1 and 0 settings soon became my go-to for zero drama, consistent traction, and easy flow through on random/erratic off-piste trails where hard berm turns fired into ugly rock gardens or blind sends. Even without the hydraulic bottom-out damper RockShox offers as an option for this shock, it never clanged out obviously at full travel either although real senders will likely want a volume spacer or two to change the progression. Up front, the Lyrik also benefits from time spent playing with the widely adjustable damping and pressures too, but if you keep it in the center like the rear shock you’ll be in its stealthily silent and racily poised sweet spot most of the time.
Apart from adequate rather than amazing power from the G2 brakes (remember it should have Codes) and a spongey feel from the TransX dropper lever the spec is mostly really positive. Even the alloy chainset was a relief when the naturally low ride height meant clattered crank tips that would be worrying with carbon. While the 32T ring is good for pedaling fast descents switching to a 30T ring reduced the power squat slightly too so I’d probably stick with that if I kept the bike for a while.
That leaves the only serious glitch as the gappy freehub which was really obvious and irritating when trying to hustle hard. The abrupt slam and sudden suck down when it did engage also caused some sketchy stumbles towards the bars in extreme moments. The undermining effect it was having was really brought home when I switched to a set of Reserve 30SL wheels with a considerably faster freehub reaction and lighter weight. That instantly made the GT much more rewarding to hustle under power and while less free movement before pedal connection did make it more stutter prone through big slap hits, it wasn’t excessive. Plus if you’re going to be going fast and hard through sizeable geology most of the time you’ll probably want GT’s high pivot Force bike with more travel in a more rearward axle path and a bigger impact appetite as a result.
What affects bicycle value
The value of your bicycle will depend on a number of factors, including:
Brand and model
Specialized and Trek bicycles often have excellent value, as these brands are known for quality manufacturing and are desired by bike enthusiasts.
“The top-of-the-line bikes hold their value the best,” says Leonard Nuckolls, owner of Goodbye Cycle, a bike shop based in Granbury, Texas, that buys used bikes online. “Of all the bikes, Specialized is the brand that really stands out to me in terms of resale value. Their S-Works models really hold their value.”
Nuckolls referenced a Specialized S-Works Venge that recently sold on eBay for 9,000. “The bike originally retailed for around 11,000, and as you can see it sold for 9,000 used. That is a tremendous value for a used bike. Most bikes depreciate much more than this,” he says.
Specialized S-Works Venge. Source: eBay
Nuckolls says many people don’t realize that some things that come with a new bike do not convey to the next owner. For example, the original owner of an S-Works bicycle might have a lifetime warranty on the frame or free adjustments, but the warranty and free adjustments do not transfer to a second owner.
“The other bikes that really stand out to me are the high-end titanium-framed bikes, like Moot’s or Seven,” Nuckolls says. “These bikes are generally considered to be a lifetime investment. People that buy these bikes are looking for a bike that will last forever. They’re not quite as light as carbon-framed bikes, but the longevity of these bikes helps the resell value.”
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It’s important to understand what you have, because not all bikes are created equal – even if they’re manufactured by the same brands.
“Most of the big brand names make a wide range of bikes, so just because it says ‘Trek’ it does not necessarily mean anything,” says Nuckolls. “Specialized makes bikes that retail from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. The boutique brands like Moot’s, Seven, and Parlee are all valuable.”
In 2007, Brooks Van Holt was driving to college when he veered off his usual route to avoid a long red light. The alternative route took him past a thrift store, and as he drove by something caught his eye from the row of bicycles lined up on the sidewalk.
He stopped for a closer look.
“I could tell immediately it was a top-of-the-line French racing bike,” says Van Holt, owner and founder of Bicycle Czar, a Santa Rosa, California-based bicycle shop that specializes in used bikes.
He asked the thrift shop owner what he wanted for it, and they settled on a price tag of 60.
“I gave him 60; it’s probably worth a couple thousand dollars,” he says. “I still have the bike. It’s one of my favorite stories because normally I wouldn’t be driving down that street, and that bike would have gotten picked off fast by one of the regular pickers.”
Bicycle picking isn’t as easy as it used to be. Van Holt said ten years ago, one could easily find valuable bicycles at garage sales, thrift stores, and flea markets. Twenty years ago, one could find them at the dump.
“You could pull thousand-dollar bikes out of the metal recycle bin. People would take fully-equipped Italian racing bikes and throw them in the recycle bins,” Van Holt says. “People got wise to it. Now, information is so abundant and people know how to access that information, so those days are over.”
Van Holt says bicycles should be judged on both cosmetic condition and structural condition.
“Looks can be deceiving,” he says. “You could have something that’s cosmetically clean, that doesn’t have a lot of scratches or rust, but has been heavily used; other bikes might have sat outside for a long time, but have very little use. You need to balance the two.”
Nuckolls applies the following condition grades to bicycles:
Almost New: A bike that was ridden very little
Good Used Condition: Typical signs of wear, no crashes or other damage
Normal, with light damage: A well-used bike that as some minor damage from transportation or light crash damage
Frame materials and components
Nuckolls says exotic frame materials like titanium or carbon fiber are good clues that a given bike is valuable. Components manufactured by companies like Dura Ace, Sram Red, and Compagnolo Super Record are also good indicators of value.
How to find the value of your bicycle
Use these resources to find out what your bike is worth:
Enter the brand and model of your bike, and Bicycle Blue Book will tell how much your bike is worth. Even the pros use it.
“We use Bicycle Blue Book quite a bit,” says Van Holt. “It tends to be helpful and accurate for bicycles made after the year 2000. Before the year 2000, it doesn’t have a whole lot of information. The values they give are private party values.
Search for your bike brand and model on eBay, then check “sold listings” in the left sidebar to see what similar bicycles have recently sold for. eBay offers real-world sales examples, but it’s not always a straightforward valuation.
“If we’re trying to figure out what a bicycle is worth I will research it on Bicycle Blue Book and I will search on eBay in the completed listings,” says Van Holt. “Interpreting the data is not necessarily easy. You want to find something of comparable condition, and knowing if it is does requires expertise.”
You can also seek the advice of bike shops, particularly those that deal in used bicycles. Both Bicycle Czar and Goodbye Cycle purchase used bikes, for example; or, you could search online for local used bike shops.
2016 Specialized Enduro Expert Carbon 29 mountain bike. Source: Leonard Nuckolls
Where to sell your bicycle
Ready to sell your bike? Here’s where you can cash in.
Independent bike shops
Local bike shops and bicycle shops with online presences routinely purchase used bicycles. Search online for bike shops in your area, or check out Bicycle Czar and Goodbye Cycle. The Pro’s Closet is another store that buys bicycles.
Independent bike stores typically pay in cash or trade-in credit. Keep in mind bike shops won’t pay the full retail value of your bicycle, since they need to be able to make a profit. However, they might be the most convenient options.
“We are not always the highest offer you might get, but we make it really easy,” says Nuckolls. “Selling it yourself can be a real pain. If you have ever tried to sell something on eBay or Craigslist, you know how much work it can be. We offer a competitive price for high-end bikes and it is a quick, easy transaction.”
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eBay charges ten percent on completed sales, and you’ll incur PayPal fees, but the auction format could drive the price up to cover those fees – and then some. Keep in mind shipping a bicycle can be expensive, so you’ll need to decide whether you’re willing to ship it (and who will pay the shipping fees) or if you’ll only sell to buyers who can pick your bike up. Payments are submitted via PayPal.
Bicycle Bluebook claims to put your listing in front of hundreds of thousands of bike buyers. Listing is free, though you’ll be charged a five percent final value fee. Payments are submitted via PayPal. You can also use Bicycle Bluebook to find nearby bicycle shops for trade-ins.
Craigslist, Marketplace, and local selling apps
It’s free to sell your bicycle on local classifieds listing sites like Craigslist, Marketplace, and apps like OfferUp and LetGo. All transactions are negotiated directly between the buyer and seller; thus, you’ll need to vet buyers to avoid scams and hassles like no-shows.
Online bicycle forums and classifieds
Online bicycle forums often include buying and selling sections, and some sites are solely dedicated to bicycle classifieds. In most cases, it’s free to post, and there is little to no moderation. You’ll work out the details of your sale directly with the buyer, so you’ll need to take the same precautions you would if you were selling on a local classifieds site.
Bicycle forums and classifieds include:
Overview of the Company
GT Bicycles has its roots in Southern California, where the brand was established by Gary Turner in 1972.
After accumulating experience by working on drag racing cars as a welder, he decided to apply his knowledge on bikes as well. In 1972, he created the first BMX GT frame for his kid to use on a local race circuit. The frame ended up being a huge hit among the local riders, and the rest is history.
During the 1980s, GT became known for durability and performance, consistently winning top-level BMX races by a large margin.
By the beginning of the 1990s, the company spread out to include other cycling disciplines in its portfolio as well, such as the emerging sport of mountain biking. At the end of the decade, GT started working on full-suspension development and introduced its ultra-reliable and efficient i-Drive® suspension system.
Due to financial problems, the company went public in 1998 and was acquired by Schwinn. After a few more hand-me-overs, GT was finally bought by Dorel Industries in 2004 that also owns Cannondale, Schwinn, and Mongoose.
Today, GT bikes are as strong and popular as ever, offering a huge selection of bicycles in different categories and at different price points, intended for elite riders and complete beginners.
On top of that, GT also sponsors numerous successful athletes (Wyn Masters, Marting Maes, Noga Korem, etc.) as well as BMX and MTB Factory Racing Teams.
GT Bicycles Range Overview
GT’s success stems from BMX racing, but today the brand stands for a lot more, even though BMX bikes still constitute a large part of its selection.
Riders of all levels and affinities can find a suitable two-wheeler by scrolling through the GT bikes lineup that consists of multiple subcategories:
- BMX
- Mountain (Hardtail Full Suspension)
- Road
- Electric
- Lifestyle
- Dirtjump
- Women’s
- Kids
Most GT bikes come in several different builds, named Sport, Comp, Expert, Elite, and Pro, based on the price tag and level of components.
Learn more about what you can expect from the most popular categories below.
Mountain Bikes
GT specializes in off-road bikes intended for mountain, trails, dirt, and gravel roads.
Its selection of mountain bikes consists of Full Suspension and Hardtail models, suitable for recreational and competitive cyclists.
When it comes to Hardtail bikes, the most popular recreational models include Aggressor, Laguna, and Palomar. Avalanche is the most popular trail-ready HT model.
Force, Fury, and Sensor are GT’s best-known Full-Suspension models. They come with carbon or aluminum frames and constitute the Trail, Enduro, and Gravity offering.
When it comes to the suspension, mid-range and high-end FS models use GT’s LTS (Linkage Tuned Suspension) four-bar system that was first developed in the 1990s.
The LTS suspension system also features Flip Chip technology that changes the geometry by altering BB height and head tube angle.
It allows riders to fine-tune how the suspension behaves and play with bump absorption, braking, and pedaling performance.
The most expensive GT mountain bikes boast Fox Factory and RockShox suspension, whereas more affordable builds sport SR Suntour suspension.
Beginners can get a GT mountain bike for as little as 500, whereas World Championship hopefuls can spend upwards of 8,000 on their dream build.
Whichever group you belong to, you’ll be sure to find a model that suits your needs.
Road and Gravel Bikes
No matter how much you love dirt and the mountains, sometimes you’ll have to steer toward the pavement. That’s where GT’s road bikes come in.
But GT’s road selection doesn’t actually include any purist road bikes. Instead, it offers a few gravel and all-road models suitable for multi-surface riding.
Read : Gravel vs Road Bikes – the main differences
The flagship model is called GT Grade. This is a drop-bar gravel bike available with a carbon or aluminum frame. It’s suitable for intermediate riders and amateur racers.
GT’s iconic triple-triangle frame features floating seat stays for more compliance and is Di2 and dropper post compatible.
over, the Pro and Expert builds come with a Flip Chip fork that lets you adjust the geometry and handling. With Shimano components and WTB 40mm tires, GT Grade is quick on pavement and confident off-road.
GT’s Road category also includes the Transeo road fitness bike. This is a flat-bar hybrid with front suspension, multi-surface tires, and upright geometry. Its affordable pricing makes it ideal for absolute beginners and recreational riders looking for durability and dependable performance.
Even though none of these models is a road bike in the pure sense of the word, you can easily equip them with narrow tires and have one bike that’s suitable for all types of roads.
BMX
BMX bikes are where the GT story began back in 1972. It’s what GT does the best and what it is most popular for.
The current GT BMX lineup consists of four types of bicycles:
At the moment, there are 40 models that you can choose from, which is by far the largest selection compared to all other GT categories.
If you love doing tricks at a local BMX park or your city square, you should check out the Freestyle category. It offers a plentitude of lightweight bikes with 20″ wheels that will allow you to easily learn bar burns, 180s, 360s, barspins, alleyoops, and more.
FAQ
Is GT a good bike brand?
GT is a quality bike brand that offers a similar level of quality as Cannondale, Giant, Trek, and other big companies. It offers a large number of model families suitable for all types of riders, including absolute beginners and elite-level pros. GT is famous for its race-ready BMX and MTB bikes.
Are GT road bikes good?
GT doesn’t have a large offering of road bikes, but all the available models offer a value for the money that’s comparable to its biggest competitors. Its lineup consists of carbon and aluminum, all-road and gravel bikes, as well as a few flat-bar fitness hybrid bikes.
Who owns GT Bicycles?
As of 2004, GT Bicycles is owned by Dorel Industries. This is a huge cycling conglomerate that owns a few other popular bike brands, such as Cannondale, Schwinn, and Mongoose. GT used to be a privately owned company from 1972-1998, at which point it went public and was sold.
Is GT the same as Giant?
GT is not the same as Giant. These are two separate bike brands, with completely different ownership. GT is owned by Dorel Industries, a conglomerate that owns a few other big cycling brands, whereas Giant is part of Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Are GT bikes made in China?
GT Bikes are made in Asia, which is the case with the majority of popular USA-based bike brands today. All brands owned by Dorel Industries use frames that are manufactured in Asian countries, such as China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and so on, in order to reduce costs.
Final Verdict
GT’s reputation suffered a bit during the early 2000s due to management issues caused by multiple acquisitions. However, the brand is now stronger and more successful than ever.
It produces reliable and durable bicycles around tried and true frames that have passed the test of time. Its bikes run similar levels of components comparable to other big bike brands such as Cannondale, Specialized, Trek, or Giant.
If you’re a recreational rider or an aspiring racer looking for your next bike, there’s no reason not to shortlist GT. You’ll get a much better deal compared to a boutique brand such as Yeti or Santa Cruz, but end up with indistinguishable performance.